WORKERS at the Greyhound Recycling waste company have voted to accept a settlement package after one of the most bitter industrial disputes in recent years.

The agreement means the picket on the company’s Clondalkin depot will be lifted immediately.

The company and the employees have been locked in a fractious stand-off for the past 14 weeks.

But 52 of the 78 strikers have now decided to accept the deal – with 15 voting against, 10 not voting and one spoiled vote.

Greyhound will now withdraw pending court actions against the strikers and some third parties. The company had warned the dispute could lead to the closure of the company and the loss of all 400 jobs.

SIPTU Divisional Organiser Owen Reidy praised the “fortitude and solidarity” of the workers and said the settlement would allow those involved to move on with their lives.

Mr Reidy said there was now an opportunity to create a Joint Labour Committee to establish agreed pay levels.

“This agreement hopefully brings to an end a long and difficult period for the workers and their families.

“The fortitude of the Greyhound workers’ elected representatives, and the SIPTU organisers involved in this dispute, has been a key factor in the union’s ability to negotiate an agreement with management.